Tanzania Government organizes sorghum day

Tanzania Government organizes sorghum day

The Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives in partnership with ICRISAT-Nairobi organized a farmers’ field day on 22 June. About 200 men and women farmers attended the day dedicated to sorghum.

The event started with a tour of a sorghum field planted with variety Macia. The farmers were very impressed with the maturing crop planted as an intercrop, and observed that despite the dry spell, the sorghum crop had fully set seed. Several farmers were heard saying that they would stop planting maize in favor for sorghum, while others wished to acquire Macia seed and increase the acreage grown to it.

Present at the sorghum day were Frida Mgonja, the project country coordinator, Govind Kelkar project gender specialist, and Henry Ojulong and Joseph Kibuka from ICRISAT-Nairobi. Joseph Kibuka emphasized the need for farmers to change their farming practices and adapt drought-resistant crops like

sorghum, finger millet and pearl millet. He noted that there is a good market for sorghum in the beer industry, as needs are not being met in both Tanzania and the neighboring Kenya.

Haji Musa Samizi (between the ladies), Ministry and ICRISAT staff by the sorghum field

The District Commissioner of Arusha, Haji Musa Samizi, who was the guest of honor, thanked ICRISAT for its continued support in providing varieties suitable for the semi-arid areas, especially sorghum and pigeonpea. He was particularly grateful for the project and its marketing chain approach, and predicted that sorghum would soon

turn from a staple crop to a cash crop. He observed that the decline in rainfall has led to prolonged drought, and with the growing population measures have to be in place to mitigate frequent famines and food insecurity. He revealed that the government will pursue the following strategies: promote short-term crops;

introduce drought-tolerant crops like sorghum, millets and pigeonpea, and promote water harvesting. These, he noted, are in line with ICRISATs priorities, and pledged continued collaboration.

Encouraging farmers to take up sorghum cultivation, he said that the Tanzanian government had decided to supply sorghum to farmers in the drought affected areas. The day ended with the guests sampling mouth watering sorghum products like Pillao (sorghum and meat mixture), half cake and chapattis.